By Brian Ray
“Imagine when you were in high school having someone like Dr. Laman Gray, the first surgeon to implant an artificial heart, talk to your class and bring actual devices into your classroom,” said Jenny Sawyer, director of admissions at the University of Louisville.
It is with illustrious lecturers such as Gray, professor of surgery at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, that the Presidential Outreach Program hopes to draw applications from the state’s academic stars.
The outreach program sends U of L faculty, including President Dr. James R. Ramsey, and students to high schools throughout the commonwealth to recruit the state’s academic leaders. And U of L Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing John Drees said the effort is showing results.
“The places we visit know we appreciate them,” Drees said. “They like the fact that we come to visit them. This program touches hundreds of people yearly and we have gotten very good students – students that could attend top schools around the country.”
U of L representatives visit high schools, convention centers and country clubs in search of college-bound students who receive a special invitation.
“Each event is tailor made for the audience,” said Drees. “Last year we took a video and a large screen with us, but each event depends on our audience.”
Sawyer recalled meeting Andrew Chacko, who is now a U of L senior biology major, at a President’s outreach event in Owensboro. “He had the opportunity that night to talk to Dr. Don Miller, Director of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center.”
The program was started several years ago and not only benefits high school students.
“The alumni appreciate us coming to their part of the state and giving them an update on the university,” said Drees.
Sawyer said she believes this program played a strong part in U of L enrolling its largest and highest quality freshmen class this fall.
“These kids could go anywhere in the country,” said Drees. “But we want them to see what U of L has to offer.
Also, in many parts of the state U of L does not make the daily headlines. This is why Ramsey meets with editorial boards and invites local media to the outreach events, according to Drees. “He wants to spread U of L’s message throughout the state,” Drees said.
According to Sawyer, U of L is welcome all over the state and now has students from every county in Kentucky, 58 percent of which come from outside Jefferson County.
